Inside Top Paddock: Luxury glamping yurt in Yolla
At the Top Paddock the line between nature and comfort blurs in the most delightful way – especially when a goat decides to join you in your outdoor bath.
There’s something magical about a forest bathing experience – just you, the stars, and a herd of goats.
Perched on a 20-acre property in Yolla is the Top Paddock – a luxury glamping yurt meticulously adorned with all of the creature comforts of home by owner Kaye McCarthy.
Driving up the long, gravel road to the Top Paddock, I was certain we would not be disturbed by other tourists, and we sure enjoyed the solitude as not one car made its way up this road during our stay.
Normally I’m a true camper – just me and my swag – but my first time glamping has shown me that this type of accommodation mixes the best aspects of camping with the amenities of more traditional types of holiday lodgings.
We had the freedom to hang outside in the elements by the fire, or head into the warm and cosy yurt. The toilet is a traditional outhouse – providing the true camping experience.
Best of all, the Top Paddock is
pet-friendly and your fur-friend is well looked after with complimentary treats and a custom dog bed styled to match the luxurious queen bed.
Kaye has adorned the interior of the yurt with all the essentials to make your stay as comfortable as possible, including a basket of quality toiletries and skincare essentials – perfect for a spa-like evening.
Inside the yurt feels more like a cabin than a tent, with high enough ceilings to walk around comfortably and plenty of room to chill inside, either on the directors chairs or straight on the carpeted floor.
Just bring all the food and drinks you need for a two-night stay and Kaye has you covered for the rest, including a drawer full of marshmallows to toast on any of the fire pits around the property.
For dinner, choose something that can be cooked over the open fire outside, or head into nearby Wynyard for some more sophisticated options.
Be sure to practise your fire-building skills if choosing the former option. Those same skills will be needed to get the tub up to the desired temperature.
The town of Wynyard is best known for its flowers and rich and fascinating geology, including Table Cape – often referred to as, “the Nut at Stanley’s smaller cousin” – and like the Nut, Table Cape is the plug of an old volcano.
In season, Table Cape is ablaze with the blooms of thousands of colourful tulips.
The town even has an annual October festival dedicated to the beautiful bulb – the Tulip Festival, which draws thousands of tourists every year.
Outside of the flower season, Wynyard offers a quaint and welcoming atmosphere with its main street filled with sole traders and independent cafes.
Bruce’s Cafe on the Old Bass Highway is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch, as well as house-made cakes and delicious coffee.
For a dinner, a great option is The Vault cafe and restaurant, which overlooks the serene Inglis River and beautiful Gutteridge Gardens.
The menu showcases the finest local and seasonal produce and the walls display works from a range of Tasmanian artists. The restaurant is situated in a century-old bank building and the new owners have taken great care to protect and promote the heritage of the building.
The relaxed seaside town of Wynyard was first settled in 1841 and officially gazetted in 1861. Its Wonders of Wynyard exhibition showcases a fascinating array of displays celebrating the area’s rich heritage. Among the highlights is a lovingly restored collection of veteran cars, featuring one of the world’s oldest surviving Fords.
Visitors can explore more recent history, such as the Table Cape Lighthouse, built in 1888 and is still in operation today, or journey even further back to immerse themselves in deep time.
Geologists and rock enthusiasts can visit geological strata formed hundreds of millions of years ago at both Fossil Bluff and Doctors Rocks. At Fossil Bluff captivating artefacts, including fossils, can be seen in the rock pools on the shore and at low tide you can see rock formations from when Tasmania was part of the super continent Gondwana.
In Kaye’s view – and that of many others – she is living the dream on her rural property, just 20 minutes from Burnie, the North-West Coast’s main hub, and nearest airport.
Yolla, a historically rich farming area, once sat on the main highway linking the North-West to the West Coast.
Since the bypass was built, the town has quietened – the once-rocking tavern now sits empty, as does the general store.
Today, residents and visitors can grab coffee at the Yolla community pharmacy, which also stocks many everyday essentials, sparing locals a trip into town.
Back to the Top Paddock and the outdoor bath, which is one of the major drawcards to this property. There is nothing quite like bathing under the stars on a Tasmanian spring night and despite normally sticking to showers, I spent more than two hours in the rustic, fire-heated tub. On the second night of my stay, the rain started to fall and it was a truly magical
experience to be out in the elements while completely warmed by the hot bath water. As I immersed myself in the clear spring water, heated to the optimum temperature by a nearby firepit, I looked across to see the resident herd of goats asleep next to me on the landing.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the moment.
Sharing my soak with a goat wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I agreed to check out this glamping escape, but it’s a memory I’ll never forget.
The author was a guest of the Top Paddock
MAKE A NOTE
GETTING THERE:
The Top Paddock is at 76 Sweetmans Rd, Yolla, about 20 minutes from Burnie, or four hours from Hobart.
PRICING:
The Top Paddock can be booked for about $200 a night with a two-night minimum stay – search for the Top Paddock on Airbnb.
DINING THERE:
Eat in Wynyard, Burnie, or Somerset or bring ingredients for a rustic, fireside dinner.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE:
Check out nearby Table Cape, which is by far Wynyard’s most remarkable natural wonder and take a drive along Tollymore Rd towards Boat Harbour, where you’ll discover stunning coastal vistas, and a terrific range of local cafes and eateries.
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